655 Dixon Road, Toronto, Canada | (727) 241-5756
Located within a five-minute walk of numerous dining
options, and a ten-minute drive from Toronto Pearson International Airport
Five on-site dining options include a Japanese restaurant and Starbucks
Indoor swimming pool with two waterslides and a hot tub
Tidy guest rooms with large bathrooms
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Free 24-hour airport shuttle every 30 minutes
Fitness center includes Precor cardio equipment
Large, flexible meeting and banquet spaces
Gift shops sells resort wear and wine
Pet-friendly
Some cleanliness issues
Decor in unrenovated guest rooms and many common areas is
dated
Daily surcharge for parking
15 miles from downtown Toronto
The International Plaza Hotel Toronto is a 433-room hotel
located less than three miles away from Toronto Pearson International Airport and a five-minute drive to the Woodbine Shopping Centre. With
five on-site dining venues, extensive meeting spaces, and a large pool with two waterslides, this
three-and-a-half pearl hotel is a practical base for business travelers or
those en route to and from the airport. A large fitness center and gift shops give the hotel a resort-like vibe. However, its run-of-the-mill room decor may disappoint guests looking for a
hotel with more personality. It’s worth comparing the rates with the nearby
Crowne Plaza Toronto Airport, which offers similar amenities and a larger
number of renovated guest rooms.
Scene
Generic airport hotel with a huge lobby
The International Plaza Hotel Toronto seems geared towards
travelers who prioritize functionality over style. The hotel offers extensive
facilities for dining, exercising, relaxing, and working, none of which are
particularly impressive but all of which solidly serve their purpose. The massive lobby’s burnt orange and brown color scheme looks
a little tired; but it seemed like most guests were more focused on the screen
displaying departure times from Toronto Airport than on scrutinizing the
hotel’s esthetics. Orange club chairs are centered around circular wooden tables set near computers for guests' use. Flat-screen TVs hang on the wall. The lobby was busy during our visit, mainly with couples and
singles waiting for the airport shuttle or sipping coffees at the Starbucks.
Location
Bland highway-side location, just over two-and-a-half miles from Toronto Pearson International Airport
The International Plaza Hotel Toronto is located less than a
10-minute drive from Toronto Airport. The hotel is set on a sparse stretch of road,
which is mainly populated with other hotels. There are a few restaurants --
mostly chains like a Tim Hortons across the street -- located less than a five-minute walk from the hotel. Toronto Congress Centre is found right across the street. Downtown Toronto can
be reached in about 20 to 30 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The hotel is
also about a five-minute drive from the shops of the Woodbine Centre.A free shuttle runs to and from the airport every 30 minutes, but there's a daily charge for parking.
Rooms
Clean, no-frills guest rooms feature large bathrooms with shower/tub combos
The hotel’s tired rooms are decorated in muted maroon,
gray, and beige tones, with dated drapery and carpets. Wall-mounted flat-screen
TVs are positioned over long desk and dresser units with old-fashioned brass
handles. Rooms also include small sitting areas with wing-back chairs, and tiny
Cuisinart coffeemakers designed to brew two individual cups. Sets of white waffle
bathrobes and slippers are found in the closet. Large bathrooms include
shower/tub combos and Nourish Natural bath products.Rooms that have been renovated are distinctly more elegant,
decorated in business-like grays and pale blues. Beds feature cushioned
headboards and the walls are decorated with playful, airplane-inspired artwork.
The long desk/dresser units look similar to those found in the unrenovated
rooms, but the brass handles are swapped out for sleeker, silver-colored ones.
Bathrooms feature dark wood counter units with gleaming grey countertops and
deep, square-shaped sinks. Though we didn't find any unsanitary issues on our visit, past guests have complained that housekeeping can be less than thorough.
Features
Indoor pool with waterslides, five on-site dining options, and free 24-hour airport shuttle
The hotel’s restaurant, Orchid Cafe, is open for breakfast,
lunch, and dinner; while Harry’s Bar is open later for drinks. Both venues are
large and relatively attractive, but unremarkable overall. The hotel is also
home to independently-owned Japanese and Chinese restaurants, and there’s a
Starbucks located in the lobby. The hotel features a large indoor pool, along with two curving
green waterslides which were closed during our visit. The pool area includes a
set-up of patio tables and beach umbrellas, and there’s a hot tub set in an
elevated corner overlooking the pool. The hotel’s fitness center offers Precor cardio machines, free
weights, and exercise balls. The well-maintained equipment and a bold pink
accent wall give the center a more modern feeling than most of the hotel’s
other facilities. The hotel also offers 60,000 square feet of meeting and
banquet space. The carpet patterns look old-fashioned in most, but the spaces are
bright and practical. There’s also a small open concept business center with
two PCs and a printer located in the lobby, just across from the Starbucks.The hotel includes a handful of other independently-owned
shops on-site, including a spa, a salon, and a clothing store. Free Wi-Fi is
available throughout the hotel, and pets are welcome with advanced notice.